AF Removes F-35 Pilot Weight Restriction

Military.comWeek of May 22, 2017

The Air Force recently removed the restriction that kept pilots weighing less than 136 pounds from flying the F-35A. The restriction was imposed in 2015 due to concerns about the risk during ejections in a portion of the flight envelope. The Air Force took immediate action to ensure pilot safety and work with the manufacturer to meet requirements for the seat. The new ejection seats are already being retrofitted into the existing fleet, and the lightweight helmets are available in pre-production now, while full production starts later this year.